Riding in Search of Wilder Nature

Riding in Search of Wilder Nature — Chasing a Wider World of Nature on Two Wheels

Eo Suha, a rider who thrives on challenges, says you take better photos when you understand the essence of cycling and feel its joy. On several routes, from leafy mountain passes in Gangwon-do to the emerald beaches of the East Coast, he rode with an e-bike and captured a wider stretch of nature through his lens.

Words & Photos Eo Suha
Eo Suha is a photographer and cinematographer who specializes in sports and outdoor activities. He holds a sub-3 full marathon record and enjoys cycling and other activities along with travel.

I took up cycling after I happened to watch a Tour de France documentary and was captivated by riders pushing past the limits of human endurance. The stage climbing Mont Ventoux moved me most of all. For various reasons I took about five years off, then tried mountain bike touring on a backpacking trip through South America. When I came back to Korea, I started riding again.

Even on touring rides, I tend to plan routes with exercise intensity in mind. So I consider my target time to the destination, the climbs, and the elevation gain. If I deliberately leave out the easier routes, my determination to finish the ride grows stronger, and the sense of accomplishment on arrival is even greater.

While I was deciding where to ride this time, I settled on the Inje and Sokcho area, where I have ridden most often and have the most memories. Thanks to the new highway and tunnels, the area is safe to ride, and it still looks the way it did ten years ago. It broke my heart that many of the roads washed out by last summer’s floods had not yet been restored. Still, I had a great time because of the Geukdong Yeongyeon Passport, which I came across by chance. It is a stamp passport that lets you tour five local places in Sokcho, and it made this a trip where I could eat, drink, and fill up on atmosphere along the East Coast. Gyoam-ri Beach in Goseong, which I discovered on this trip, also stayed with me.

The e-bike I had tried before was a mountain bike that simply made riding a little easier. The Turbo Creo SL I rode this time took the strain out of long-distance riding without spoiling the essence of the ride. That let me focus purely on enjoyment, and it made me want to go even farther.

I would also recommend it to beginners or middle-aged and older riders who dread long rides because of the physical toll, and to parents starting a second chapter in life. The worry about distance shrinks while the fun grows. Once you enjoy it, you head out to ride more often, and your fitness naturally improves. Isn’t riding an e-bike the perfect two-birds-with-one-stone hobby for parents who have worked hard for their families all these years, letting them see and enjoy Korea’s beautiful scenery while looking after their health?

Personally, I now have many more places I want to ride on the Turbo Creo SL: a loop around Jeju’s coast, a loop through Jeju’s mid-mountain highlands, the Seoul-to-Busan cross-country route, the length of National Route 7, and a tour of the West, South, and East Coasts. I want to take on longer, wider courses.